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OPINION

Letter: Rhea Chiles was champion for children

Lawton & Rhea Chiles launched the Florida Healthy Start Coalitions in 1970. In 2014, some of us on the local board realized that Rhea Chiles had never been honored on our "Wall of Angels" and we felt we needed to do something about that.

The response from Chiles administration friends and staff was enthusiastic and Capital Area Healthy Start received some truly generous donations to help local mothers and babies.

I treasure an exchange with Mrs. Chiles that I think exemplifies her charm. She said, "You know, I've lived my life going from one election to another, wondering if you'd get elected. Now here I am at the threshold of heaven's door wondering if I'll be accepted! To learn I've already reached angel-status down here is most encouraging."

Her main reason for that call was to make sure she had the names of all those who had donated in her honor so that she could thank them. I know that so many people here mourn her loss; how wonderful it was for the children of Florida to have had such a champion.